NON-AFRICAN DRAMA
Lorraine Hansberry: A Raisin in the Sun
How are Mama, Ruth and Beneatha portrayed in the play?
Explanation
Mrs. Younger, Mama, is portrayed as a traditional woman. Mama belongs to the class of women that believe that men should always be in charge. Thus, she never fails to tell who her husband was and how she submitted to him. After her husband's death, she is the matriarch of the family, the one that the rest of the family looks up to. She is initially disappointed that Walter Jr. is unable to take up his role as the family head. Thus, when the cheque arrives she decides first what to do with it —buy a house at Clybourne Park and move the family into a more decent accommodation and environment, Walter's disagreement notwithstanding. With the cheque, she is able to satisfy her children's dreams, including Ruth's and even Travis's. By allowing Walter Jr. to disburse the rest of the money, she restores her faith in her son: "it ain't much but it's all I got in the world and I'm putting it in your hands. I'm telling you to be the head of the family from now on like you supposed to be".
Ruth represents a different class of women who will stand up to men when they are wrong. Thus it is not all that Walter, her husband, says that she takes. For instance, when Walter responds to her question, "what kind of eggs you want?" with "not scrambled", she immediately begins scrambling the eggs. Another example is her defying her husband's opposition to her intended abortion. Thanks to Mama. Ruth changes her mind. But Ruth is still a conventional woman of sorts. She is not entirely happy about Beneatha's new found life-style and beliefs. The scene where Mama disciplines Beneatha for her heretical comments about God reveals an aspect of Ruth's character. After Mama is gone, she chides Beneatha for behaving like a child. Then, when Beneatha walks out, she goes to Mania and says to her: "she said she was sorry". Ruth will do everything she can to preserve the family unity. Regardihg the movement to Clybourne Park, she gives her consent: As she puts it, "... if this is my time in life to say goodbye .. (then) good-bye misery... I don't never want to see your ugly face again!" This demonstrates the family's yearning to improve their status. Beneatha alone stands for change. Her desire is to pursue education and become a doctor. This challenges the conventional role of the African American woman who is not expected to aspire to professions reserved for men. Even when men try to exert power on Beneatha and belittle her, she remains resolute. The hair incident is an example. When George tells her to 'drop the Garbo routine' because he does. not want `to hear all about (her) thoughts', she. refuses to be belittled and asks him 'Then why read books? Why go to school?' She is aghast at his answer "... you need books.., to get grades — to pass the course — to get. a degree. That's all — it has nothing to do with thoughts".
Beneatha mulls over this and decides that George is a fool and will not waste her time on a fool. Beneatha, like her mother and Ruth, cannot believe that Walter has staked the rest of the insurance money on a deal that goes wrong. Unlike them, however, she pours contempt on him— 'I look at you and I see the final triumph of stupidity in the world', adding that Walter is not a man; "he is nothing but a toothless rat". But when her mother admonishes her, saying that "the time to love somebody the most ... is when he's at his lowest and can't believe it hisself. .` Beneatha readily takes that to heart. Later, after Walter tells Mr. Lindner through much fumbling on his part, that the family has refused Lindner's offer and will move into their house, Beneatha is the first to support Walter. When a stupefied Lindner says to the family 'I take it then that you have decided to occupy' it is Beneatha who quickly responds 'That's what the man said. Walter, Whom she earlier said, was not a man' is the very 'man' she confidentely refers to, because she sees him rise to his duty "like a rainbow after the rain'.
Points to note:
(1) The characteristion of Mama as matriarch of the family. Her taking over responsibility as head after her husband's death; her offer of love even when there are cracks in the family fold; her use of the insurance money to buy a house at Clybourne Park; her ceding control over the family to Walter after he has come into his own.
(2) Ruth's portrayal as a not so conventional woman in her relationship with Walter; her ability to express her feeling openly to Mama, her acting Mama's confidant; her pleasure in moving out of misery to Clybourne Park.
(3) Beneatha's portrayal as the unconventional black American woman, educated and aspiring to become a doctor. Her intolerance of mediocrity in men who would put her down and her emotional and psychological affinity to men like Asagai. She too is happy to move to Clybourne Park.